The Anxious Achiever

Latest Episodes:

Crossover Special: Everyday Better with Leah Smart Jun 25, 2025

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Everyday Better with Leah Smart is a show that helps listeners level up - in their careers and their lives. In this episode, Leah speaks with Anxious Achiever host Morra Aarons-Mele about her research and work around having a understanding your own unique brain and embracing a big career, from introversion, mental health, and neurodivergence. Morra explains what she’s learned about leadership and organizations through the lens of studying these topics.

Check out Everyday Better:

On Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G8zjY1

On Spotify: https://bit.ly/3HRpNsQ

Who’s In Your Mental Health Squad? Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

It might not be that easy to talk to your boss about mental health. But having close friends at work - on your team or elsewhere - where you can have open, honest dialogues can go a long way. In this episode, host Morra Aarons-Mele speaks with three work friends about how they started talking mental health, how it helped them in their jobs, and what they hope managers can better understand in the future.

Unpacking Your Money Trauma Jun 11, 2025

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We all have hang ups when it comes to money - but do you know where yours come from? In a time when many people feel economically insecure, Morra speaks with personal finance expert Shannah Game about the root of money issues and how we can recognize and grow from our trauma around money. Your money history doesn’t have to be your financial future! Shannah is the author of the book Unraveling Your Relationship with Money: Ditch Your Money Trauma So You Can Live an Abundant Life.

Check out her book here: https://www.amazon.com/Unraveling-Your-Relationship-Money-Abundant/dp/1394299850

Shannah’s podcast: https://everyonestalkinmoney.com/episodes/

Defining Your Values with Suzy Welch Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

Do you really live by your core values - or do you even need help defining what they are? Many of us might have a vague notion of what is important to us in life, but our daily decisions and actions don’t always align with those values. The more precision with which we define our values, the more resilience we have to thrive in tough times, and lead through anxiety. Suzy Welch is the author of a number of books including most recently Becoming You: The Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career. And she explains how she approaches values, why they are different than virtues, and how better understanding what really matters to you can guide a more focused and productive work life.

Suzy’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-You-Proven-Crafting-Authentic/dp/0063418606Suzy’s podcast: https://www.suzywelch.com/podcasts/

The Roots of Perfectionism and How We Can Change May 28, 2025

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Perfectionism can help us succeed, but it can also be a detriment to our mental health and our lives. Understanding it is the first step to better management. In this episode, psychologist Thomas Greenspon shares research about perfectionism, where it comes from, how it can impact us - and how we can try to cope with it to move forward.

The Power of Spaciousness and the Gift of Being Seen May 21, 2025

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Do you feel like a rubber band about to snap- low on capacity, time, and space to think? Are you constantly stuck in a mode of “doing” - trapped by your own productivity? Researcher and author Megan Reitz says that shifting into “spacious mode” could do wonders for your mental health, your relationships, and your work. She speaks with Morra about how our obsession with productivity might be crowding out creativity, insight, and connection. Plus, she’ll share practical ways to slow down, get present, and pay attention.

Flexing Your Emotional Intelligence Muscles May 14, 2025

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What does it really mean to be emotionally strong—and why is emotional intelligence the leadership skill of the future? Emily Anhalt, author of the new book Flex Your Feelings: Train Your Brain to Develop the 7 Traits of Emotional Fitness, explains why mental health is an ongoing practice, and how we can get more fit. She breaks down why emotional resilience, self-awareness, and adaptability are essential not just for personal well-being but for building sustainable, high-performing teams. Plus, Anhalt explains why emotional fitness is more like going to the gym than going to the doctor, how to build it through “emotional pushups,” and why soft skills are actually some of the hardest (and most valuable) to build in your career.

Check out Emily’s new book here: https://www.amazon.com/Flex-Your-Feelings-Develop-Emotional/dp/0593717619

Finding Your “Why” and Rooting Leadership in Healing May 07, 2025

Show notes

Five years ago, Dr. Maggie Chery tragically lost both of her parents to the Covid 19 pandemic, just weeks apart. It was a trauma that still affects her today, but it shifted the course of her life’s work as well. Today Maggie is a program manager at Google, and Chief Operating Officer at Not Just a Black Body. Her personal loss has drastically shifted how she works - both in terms of her leadership philosophy, and in terms of how she approaches creating better health equity outcomes around the globe, including those of mental health.

Masculinity, Disability, and Reframing Leadership Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

What assumptions do you hold about leadership, ability, and power? In the wake of recent comments from Mark Zuckerberg about the need for more “masculine energy” in the workplace, Jason Rosario returns to the show to talk about changing definitions of masculinity and vulnerability - and what it means for work. Rosario is CEO of the agency The Lives of Men and Chief Impact and Inclusion Office at BBDO Worldwide.

Plus, we’re joined by Dom Kelly, CEO of the nonprofit New Disabled South, to talk about disability and leadership.

OCD and the Art of Noticing Everything Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder isn’t just a cluster of symptoms to manage. Like other mental health challenges, it can come with hidden advantages like the ability to be more creative and empathetic. The key is understanding - whether you have OCD or you work with someone who does. Michael Alcee, author of the book The Upside of OCD: Flip the Script to Reclaim Your Life, explains the misconceptions we have about OCD, what spiraling thoughts really feel like, and how this relates to the ability to achieve.

Read Michael’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Upside-OCD-Flip-Script-Reclaim/dp/1538191105

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